At least five persons were injured and around 15 houses gutted after a clash erupted between two communities over construction of a religious structure in Atali village in Faridabad, following which the district administration has beefed up security.


The trouble began yesterday when the roof of the religious structure was being laid, he said.


A group of people from the other community started pelting stones and turned violent with equal retaliation from the other side, he said.


The group poured kerosene on the houses of those belonging to the community and set them on fire. The people fled from their houses, he said.


Section 144 was imposed in the village, he said, adding, twenty people have been booked under various sections of the IPC and Arms Act.


The police are on a strict vigil to avoid any untoward situation, the inspector said. The SHO of Police Station Chainsa has been suspended for not handling the situation well.


Police force from six nearby districts was called to control the situation, an official said, adding that flag march was also conducted by the police.